Hardback
Handbook of Qualitative Research Methods on Human Resource Management
Innovative Techniques
9781784711177 Edward Elgar Publishing
This Handbook explores the opportunities and challenges of new technologies for innovating data collection and data analysis in the context of human resource management. Written by some of the world’s leading researchers in their field, it comprehensively explores modern qualitative research methods from good project design, to innovations in data sources and data collection methods and, finally, to best-practice in data analysis.
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Critical Acclaim
Contributors
Contents
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Human resource management as a field of research is a broad church, with a wide variety of research methods in use. This Handbook focuses on qualitative research methods and explores the opportunities and challenges of new technologies for innovating data collection and data analysis.
The editors have brought together 18 chapters, written by some of the world’s leading researchers in their field. They begin with the importance of good project design and then move on to reflect on innovations and developments in data sources, such as netnographical methods, legal research methods, the use of news media, and historical research. They go on to outline innovations in data collection methods with particular pertinence to key HRM topics. Finally, the contributors explore innovative data analysis, looking at the importance of computer-supported qualitative research, causal cognitive mapping and deriving behavioural role descriptions from the perspectives of job-holders.
This Handbook is an invaluable tool for students, researchers and academics in the field of human resource management.
The editors have brought together 18 chapters, written by some of the world’s leading researchers in their field. They begin with the importance of good project design and then move on to reflect on innovations and developments in data sources, such as netnographical methods, legal research methods, the use of news media, and historical research. They go on to outline innovations in data collection methods with particular pertinence to key HRM topics. Finally, the contributors explore innovative data analysis, looking at the importance of computer-supported qualitative research, causal cognitive mapping and deriving behavioural role descriptions from the perspectives of job-holders.
This Handbook is an invaluable tool for students, researchers and academics in the field of human resource management.
Critical Acclaim
‘The editors of this compelling volume insist that contemporary HRM scholarship can be as profound and enduring as the classics in the study of work. A revamped vision of qualitative research, aiming to be “innovative and timeless”, should drive this agenda. The book urges researchers to draw on older disciplines – history, philosophy, psychology, law, ethnography – in new ways and points to the promise of novel methods, from photo-elicitation to cognitive mapping, which could drive HRM research. This is a call to do new things now and old things differently.’
– Bradon Ellem, University of Sydney, Australia
‘Townsend, Loudoun and Lewin have compiled a solid and insightful resource that engages in some very interesting qualitative research methodologies. The contributors assembled in this volume remind us that there is so much more to business and management research than the narrow positivist approaches favoured in many prescriptive business schools. Studies of the world of work and HRM will be much better from consulting this volume.’
– Tony Dundon, University of Manchester, UK
‘This Handbook provides a much-needed fresh perspective on qualitative research methods. The editors and contributors to the book present convincing evidence that qualitative research can be both innovative and timeless when it is well designed and executed. The Handbook reminds us that recent technological developments, from mobile phones to transcription software, facilitate a much wider range of data collection than previously existed. A combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods can be a powerful source of progress in the social sciences. This Handbook is an essential reference for anyone undertaking qualitative research in HRM and will be an inspiration for current and future researchers.’
– Russell Lansbury, The University of Sydney Business School, Australia
– Bradon Ellem, University of Sydney, Australia
‘Townsend, Loudoun and Lewin have compiled a solid and insightful resource that engages in some very interesting qualitative research methodologies. The contributors assembled in this volume remind us that there is so much more to business and management research than the narrow positivist approaches favoured in many prescriptive business schools. Studies of the world of work and HRM will be much better from consulting this volume.’
– Tony Dundon, University of Manchester, UK
‘This Handbook provides a much-needed fresh perspective on qualitative research methods. The editors and contributors to the book present convincing evidence that qualitative research can be both innovative and timeless when it is well designed and executed. The Handbook reminds us that recent technological developments, from mobile phones to transcription software, facilitate a much wider range of data collection than previously existed. A combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods can be a powerful source of progress in the social sciences. This Handbook is an essential reference for anyone undertaking qualitative research in HRM and will be an inspiration for current and future researchers.’
– Russell Lansbury, The University of Sydney Business School, Australia
Contributors
Contributors: P. Ackers, S. Branch, R. Cameron, C. Cassell, G. Clarkson, J. Cogin, J. Ewart, M.T. Hardin, M. Humphreys, R. Johnstone, M. Learmonth, D. Lewin, R. Loudoun, F. Malik, A. McDowall, J.L. Ng, W. Nienhüeser, L.S. Radcliffe, S. Ramsay, J. Richards, C. Rojon, S. Sambrook, M.N.K. Saunders, K. Townsend, K.L. Unsworth, R. Winter
Contents
Contents:
1. Qualitative Research in HRM: Innovation Over Stagnation
Keith Townsend, Rebecca Loudoun and David Lewin
SECTION I DESIGNING QUALITATIVE PROJECTS
2. The Role of Qualitative Methods in Mixed Methods Designs
Roslyn Cameron
3. Anchoring Qualitative Methods for Longitudinal Studies
Rebecca Loudoun and Keith Townsend
4. Autoethnography: A Novel Way to Study HRM
Sally Sambrook
SECTION II INNOVATIONS IN DATA SOURCES
5. Using Legal Research Methods in Human Resource Management Research
Richard Johnstone
6. The Use of News Media as a Data Source in HRM Research: Exploring Society’s Perceptions
Sheryl Ramsay, Sara Branch and Jacqueline Ewart
7. Netnographical Methods and the Challenge of Researching Hidden and Secretive Employee Social Media Practices
James Richards
8. Doing Historical Research in Human Resource Management: With Some Reflections on an Academic Career
Peter Ackers
9. Thinking About Philosophical Methods in Human Resources
Kerrie L. Unsworth and Matthew T. Hardin
SECTION III INNOVATIONS IN DATA COLLECTION METHODS
10. An Experiment With ‘The Miracle Question’: An Innovative Data Collection Technique in HR Research
Keith Townsend
11. Using Photo-Elicitation to Understand Experiences of Work-Life Balance
Catherine Cassell, Fatima Malik and Laura Radcliffe
12. Using Qualitative Repertory Grid Interviews to Gather Shared Perspectives in a Sequential Mixed Methods Research Design
Céline Rojon, Mark N.K. Saunders and Almuth Mcdowall
13. Free Verbal Associations – Measuring What People Think About Employee Participation
Werner Nienhueser
14. Using Qualitative Diaries to Uncover the Complexities of Daily Experiences
Laura S. Radcliffe
15. Autoethnographic Vignettes in HRM
Mark Learmonth and Michael Humphreys
SECTION IV INNOVATIVE DATA ANALYSIS
16. Computer Supported Qualitative Research
Julie Cogin and Ju Li Ng
17. Cross-Cultural HRM Research: The Potential of Causal Cognitive Mapping
Gail Clarkson
18. Deriving Behavioural Role Descriptions from the Perspectives of Job- Holders: An Illustrative Example
Richard Winter
Index
1. Qualitative Research in HRM: Innovation Over Stagnation
Keith Townsend, Rebecca Loudoun and David Lewin
SECTION I DESIGNING QUALITATIVE PROJECTS
2. The Role of Qualitative Methods in Mixed Methods Designs
Roslyn Cameron
3. Anchoring Qualitative Methods for Longitudinal Studies
Rebecca Loudoun and Keith Townsend
4. Autoethnography: A Novel Way to Study HRM
Sally Sambrook
SECTION II INNOVATIONS IN DATA SOURCES
5. Using Legal Research Methods in Human Resource Management Research
Richard Johnstone
6. The Use of News Media as a Data Source in HRM Research: Exploring Society’s Perceptions
Sheryl Ramsay, Sara Branch and Jacqueline Ewart
7. Netnographical Methods and the Challenge of Researching Hidden and Secretive Employee Social Media Practices
James Richards
8. Doing Historical Research in Human Resource Management: With Some Reflections on an Academic Career
Peter Ackers
9. Thinking About Philosophical Methods in Human Resources
Kerrie L. Unsworth and Matthew T. Hardin
SECTION III INNOVATIONS IN DATA COLLECTION METHODS
10. An Experiment With ‘The Miracle Question’: An Innovative Data Collection Technique in HR Research
Keith Townsend
11. Using Photo-Elicitation to Understand Experiences of Work-Life Balance
Catherine Cassell, Fatima Malik and Laura Radcliffe
12. Using Qualitative Repertory Grid Interviews to Gather Shared Perspectives in a Sequential Mixed Methods Research Design
Céline Rojon, Mark N.K. Saunders and Almuth Mcdowall
13. Free Verbal Associations – Measuring What People Think About Employee Participation
Werner Nienhueser
14. Using Qualitative Diaries to Uncover the Complexities of Daily Experiences
Laura S. Radcliffe
15. Autoethnographic Vignettes in HRM
Mark Learmonth and Michael Humphreys
SECTION IV INNOVATIVE DATA ANALYSIS
16. Computer Supported Qualitative Research
Julie Cogin and Ju Li Ng
17. Cross-Cultural HRM Research: The Potential of Causal Cognitive Mapping
Gail Clarkson
18. Deriving Behavioural Role Descriptions from the Perspectives of Job- Holders: An Illustrative Example
Richard Winter
Index
